Twins add Aaron Hicks, 7 others to 40-man roster

The Minnesota Twins added eight players, including top outfield prospect Aaron Hicks, to their 40-man roster Tuesday, as MLB.com's Gary Cotton reports. The moves came in anticipation of Tuesday night's deadline for adding players to the roster, where they're protected from selection in the upcoming Rule 5 draft.

Other than Hicks, Minnesota's 2008 first-round pick, the Twins also added catcher Josmil Pinto, left-handed pitcher Caleb Thielbar, infielder Danny Santana and right-handed pitchers Kyle Gibson, B.J. Hermsen, Michael Tonkin and Tim Wood to their 40-man roster.

Under current CBA rules regarding Rule 5 draft eligibility, "Players who were signed when they were 19 or older and have played in professional baseball for four years are eligible, as are players who were signed at 18 and have played for five years."

If a player meets those requirements without being listed on the 40-man roster, clubs can pay $50,000 to select such a player in the Rule 5 draft, which occurs at the end of the Winter Meetings in early December. If that player doesn't remain on the 25-man roster for the full season, he must be offered back to his former team for $25,000.